A large church-order compilation presented in apostolic voices, combining earlier sources with instruction on ethics, worship, ministry, discipline, liturgy, widows, ordination, and ecclesial administration across eight books.
Author
Anonymous Syrian compiler
Traditional attribution
The Apostles, transmitted through Clement of Rome
Date
Late 4th century, incorporating earlier material
Origin
Syria (often proposed)
Genre
Church Order
The compilation incorporates earlier documents and should not be dated or attributed as a single uniform composition.
Sec. III.—Ordination and Duties of the Clergy.
Concerning the Ordination of Presbyters—The Constitution of John, Who Was Beloved by the Lord.
Section 16
XVI.Concerningtheordinationofpresbyters
,
I
who
am
loved
by
the
Lord
make
this
constitution
for
you
the
bishops
:
When
thou
ordainest
a
presbyter
,
O
bishop
,
lay
thy
hand
upon
his
head
,
in
the
presence
of
the
presbyters
and
deacons
,
and
pray
,
saying
:
O
Lord
Almighty
,
our
God
,
who
hast
created
all
things
by
Christ
,
and
dost
in
like
manner
take
care
of
the
whole
world
by
Him
;
for
He
who
had
power
to
make
different
creatures
,
has
also
power
to
take
care
of
them
,
according
to
their
different
natures
;
on
which
account
,
O
God
,
Thou
takest
care
of
immortal
beings
by
bare
preservation
,
but
of
those
that
are
mortal
by
succession
—
of
the
soul
by
the
provision
of
laws
,
of
the
body
by
the
supply
of
its
wants
.
Do
Thou
therefore
now
also
look
down
upon
Thy
holy
Church
,
and
increase
the
same
,
and
multiply
those
that
preside
in
it
,
and
grant
them
power
,
that
they
may
labour
both
in
word
and
work
for
the
edification
of
Thy
people
.
Do
Thou
now
also
look
down
upon
this
Thy
servant
,
who
is
put
into
the
presbytery
by
the
vote
and
determination
of
the
whole
clergy
;
and
do
Thou
replenish
him
with
the
Spirit
of
grace
and
counsel
,
to
assist
and
govern
Thy
people
with
a
pure
heart
,
in
the
same
manner
as
Thou
didst
look
down
upon
Thy
chosen
people
,
and
didst
command
Moses
to
choose
elders
,
whom
Thou
didst
fill
with
Thy
Spirit
.
Do
Thou
also
now
,
O
Lord
,
grant
this
,
and
preserve
in
us
the
Spirit
of
Thy
grace
,
that
this
person
,
being
filled
with
the
gifts
of
healing
and
the
word
of
teaching
,
may
in
meekness
instruct
Thy
people
,
and
sincerely
serve
Thee
with
a
pure
mind
and
a
willing
soul
,
and
may
fully
discharge
the
holy
ministrations
for
Thy
people
,
through
Thy
Christ
,
with
whom
glory
,
honour
,
and
worship
be
to
Thee
,
and
to
the
Holy
Ghost
,
for
ever
.
Amen
.
Concerning the Ordination of Deacons—The Constitution of Philip.
One V. ms. has this note: “John the evangelist, the brother of James, was banished by Domitian to the island of Patmos, and there composed the Gospel according to him. He died a natural death, in the third year of Trajan’s reign, in Ephesus. His remains were sought, but have not been found.”
2
The Coptic adds: “While you pray, he is ordained; and thou shalt ordain the deacon also according to this constitution alone.”
3
Ex. xviii., , xxviii
4
One V. ms. has the following note: “Philip having proclaimed the life-giving word to the Asiatic diocese, has been buried in Hierapolis of Phrygia along with his daughters, having been crowned with martyrdom in the reign of the Emperor Domitian. Philip, who has the daughters, is one of the seven; it was he also who baptized the eunuch.”
5
Acts vi. and vii.
6
One V. ms. has the following note: “Bartholomew preached the Gospel according to Matthew to the Indians, who also has been buried in India.”
7
Ex. xv. 20; Judg. iv. 4; Luke ii. 36; 2 Kings xxii. 14.
8
2 Cor. vii. 1.
9
One V ms. has the following note: “Thomas preached to the Parthians, Medes, Persians, Germans, Hyrcanians, Bactrians, Bardians, who also, having been a martyr, lies in Edessa of Osdroene.”
10
The words “for you the bishops” are omitted in the Oxford ms.
11
[See vol. v. Elucidation XIV. p. 417.]
12
Num. iii.; 1 Chron. vi.
13
The Oxford ms. has no part of this chapter. It reads: “A reader is appointed when the bishop gives him a book; for there is no imposition of hands.”
14
Neh. viii.
15
The Coptic reads, “let him be ordained.”
16
1 Tim. v. 8.
17
1 Cor. vii. 25.
18
The two V. mss. have the following note: “Thaddæus, also called Lebbæus, and who was surnamed Judas the Zealot, preached the truth to the Edessenes and the people of Mesopotamia when Abgarus ruled over Edessa, and has been buried in Berytus of Phoenicia.”
19
Judith xvi. 21, 23
20
Luke ii. 36, etc.
21
The Coptic has, “let him be ordained.”
22
Ch. xxvii., xxviii., xxx.-xxxiv., and ch. xlii.-xlvii., occur in Syriac and Coptic, as well as in the Greek mss.
23
One V. ms. has the following note: “Simon the Canaanite, preacher of the truth, is crowned with martyrdom in Judea in the reign of Domitian.”
24
The words from “concerning” to “constitution” are omitted in the Oxford ms., in Syriac, and Coptic.
